Intercontinental Cup: India Defeats Mongolia On Opening Day

Indian men’s football team made a first victory on the opening day of Intercontinental Cup by defeating Mongolia’s football team by 2-0 score.

On the opening day of the Intercontinental Cup 2023, the Indian national football team secured a comfortable 2-0 victory against Mongolia in Bhubaneswar.

Head coach Igor Stimac expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, noting that they achieved their objectives of keeping a clean sheet and securing a win.

Despite the victory, Stimac mentioned that he would have liked to see more goals considering the numerous chances created during the match.

India’s victory extends their winning streak on home soil to six games, a run that began during the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in June last year.

Throughout this successful run, the Indian team has maintained a strong defensive record, conceding just one goal while scoring 13. Stimac expressed his pleasure with the team’s defensive solidity and emphasized the desire for continued improvement.

Winger Lallianzuala Chhangte, who was named the player of the match, opened the scoring in the 14th minute, followed by an early goal from Sahal Abdul Samad.

Chhangte, who celebrated his birthday the day before the match, expressed his happiness at finding the net for the national team after a long gap and highlighted the need for improvement in future games.

Coach Stimac praised Chhangte’s commitment and hard work, hailing him as an inspiration for aspiring players. He emphasized the importance of appreciating Chhangte’s dedication and expressed his hope that the winger’s impressive form would continue.

Chhangte partnered with Nikhil Poojary on the right wing, who made a return to the national team after a four-year absence.

Chhangte commended their performance and their ability to execute the team’s training ground strategies, highlighting the importance of replicating their performance in upcoming matches.

Looking ahead, Stimac acknowledged the busy schedule with several games lined up in the coming month.

He commended the players’ resilience in playing in the heat and humidity and expressed his pride in their efforts, hoping for an injury-free run and continued enjoyment on the pitch.

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India’s victory on the opening day of the Intercontinental Cup has created a solid foundation for the team to build upon as they aim to maintain their winning goals and achieve success in the tournament.